Lincoln County is a county located in south-central Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,275.[1] Its county seat is Stanford.[2] Lincoln County is part of the Danville, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Lincoln County
Lincoln County courthouse in Stanford
Map of Kentucky highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°28′N 84°40′W / 37.46°N 84.66°W / 37.46; -84.66
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1780
Named forBenjamin Lincoln
SeatStanford
Largest cityStanford
Area
 • Total
337 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Land334 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Water2.5 sq mi (6 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
24,275
 • Estimate 
(2023)
24,776 Increase
 • Density72/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.lincolnky.com
Historic Thomas Montgomery House in Stanford

History

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Lincoln County—originally Lincoln County, Virginia—was established by the Virginia General Assembly in June 1780, and named in honor of Revolutionary War general Benjamin Lincoln.[3][4] It was one of three counties formed out of Virginia's Kentucky County (The other two were Fayette and Jefferson), and is one of Kentucky's nine original counties.

The county's original seat was at Harrodsburg; but in 1785, Lincoln County was partitioned, and Harrodsburg became the seat of the new Mercer County. Afterward, Stanford became Lincoln County's permanent seat.

 
Lincoln County was formed in 1780, when the Virginia General Assembly partitioned Kentucky County.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 337 square miles (870 km2), of which 334 square miles (870 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Lincoln County is located in south-central Kentucky astride the southern part of the ring of Knobs, which separate the Bluegrass region from the Eastern Pennyroyal Plateau, the Lincoln County part of which includes the source and headwaters of the Green River. Lincoln County is part of Appalachia.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17906,548
18008,62131.7%
18108,6760.6%
18209,97915.0%
183011,00210.3%
184010,187−7.4%
185010,093−0.9%
186010,6475.5%
187010,9472.8%
188015,08037.8%
189015,9625.8%
190017,0596.9%
191017,8974.9%
192016,481−7.9%
193017,6877.3%
194019,85912.3%
195018,668−6.0%
196016,503−11.6%
197016,6631.0%
198019,05314.3%
199020,0455.2%
200023,36116.5%
201024,7425.9%
202024,275−1.9%
2023 (est.)24,776[6]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,361 people, 9,206 households, and 6,729 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 per square mile (27/km2). There were 10,127 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 2.53% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,206 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

By age, 25.70% of the population was under 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,833,[11] and the median income for a family was $32,284. Males had a median income of $26,395 versus $20,517 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,602. About 16.40% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.10% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated places

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Politics

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Lincoln County has been reliably Republican for several decades now, last voting for a Democratic candidate for president in 1976.

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Kentucky[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 8,833 80.05% 2,080 18.85% 121 1.10%
2020 8,489 77.78% 2,254 20.65% 171 1.57%
2016 7,338 76.75% 1,865 19.51% 358 3.74%
2012 6,416 70.10% 2,582 28.21% 154 1.68%
2008 6,273 68.55% 2,752 30.07% 126 1.38%
2004 5,996 67.65% 2,796 31.55% 71 0.80%
2000 4,795 63.12% 2,678 35.25% 124 1.63%
1996 3,006 49.19% 2,550 41.73% 555 9.08%
1992 2,624 44.13% 2,532 42.58% 790 13.29%
1988 3,530 56.64% 2,677 42.96% 25 0.40%
1984 3,996 61.27% 2,498 38.30% 28 0.43%
1980 3,034 49.70% 2,991 48.99% 80 1.31%
1976 2,694 45.47% 3,198 53.97% 33 0.56%
1972 3,623 65.03% 1,882 33.78% 66 1.18%
1968 2,591 47.45% 1,736 31.79% 1,134 20.77%
1964 1,958 37.10% 3,307 62.67% 12 0.23%
1960 3,747 61.15% 2,381 38.85% 0 0.00%
1956 3,535 54.30% 2,953 45.36% 22 0.34%
1952 3,186 52.11% 2,910 47.60% 18 0.29%
1948 2,593 45.37% 2,920 51.09% 202 3.53%
1944 2,793 47.16% 3,087 52.13% 42 0.71%
1940 3,090 45.56% 3,657 53.91% 36 0.53%
1936 3,211 47.04% 3,575 52.37% 40 0.59%
1932 3,063 39.81% 4,574 59.44% 58 0.75%
1928 3,903 62.68% 2,314 37.16% 10 0.16%
1924 2,935 46.67% 3,100 49.29% 254 4.04%
1920 3,710 49.04% 3,787 50.05% 69 0.91%
1916 1,868 44.95% 2,212 53.22% 76 1.83%
1912 842 22.54% 1,863 49.87% 1,031 27.60%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 36.
  4. ^ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 468.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ^ <https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lincoln-county-ky/>
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
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37°28′N 84°40′W / 37.46°N 84.66°W / 37.46; -84.66